Abia court ejects fed information out of office over N1.8 million rent arrears

www.odogwublog.com
reports that the Federal Ministry of Information has been ejected out of
its Umuahia, Abia State office by an Umuahia Magistrate Court over its
inability to offset a two -year office rent arrears of N1.8 million.

Owner of the three- bedroom
apartment situated at No. 4 Azikiwe Road , Mr. Adizua Okorafor , had approached
the court and sought an order for the federal agency to pay the indebtedness
and vacate the office.

After months of legal fireworks, the
matter was on February 19, decided in favour of the landlord.

According to the judgement signed by
Chief Magistrate I. S Nwulu, the defendant was ordered to clear the backlog of
rent arrears before giving up possession of the property on or before February
28.

A certified true copy of the
judgement sighted by our Correspondent today in Umuahia read in part:
" The defendant is hereby ordered to deliver up possession of the 3-
bedroom flat with the appurtenances on or before the 28th day of
February."

The court also awarded a cost of
N10,000 against the defendant .

Meanwhile, the plaintiff, Mr.
Okorafor, emboldened by the judgement, Wednesday morning, took over possession
of the property from the defendant and put the apartment under lock and
key.

When our correspondent visited the
premises, some staff of the centre who looked bewildered by the development,
were observed hanging around in the neigbouring premises bemoaning their
fate.

Head of Centre, Mrs. Edna Nkoro who
confirmed the quit order said the key to the office had already been handed over
to the landlord in compliance with the court judgement.

She lamented that the 16 staff of
the centre had been compelled to go on " forced leave" following the
ejection.

The Head of the Centre who said the
office equipment of the Ministry including 20 computer sets, desks and chairs
had been seized by the landlord appealed to the Federal Government to clear the
arrears and renew the rent to enable the staff resume operations.

Abia court ejects fed information out of office over N1.8 million rent arrears
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on
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
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